ring lip stated that, by the demands
of constituents whom they were there to represent and whose wishes they
dared not disregard, they would also change their votes to Mr. Frost.
The cheers of the Frosts and the curses of the Hawkes were redoubled;
but the Frosts drowned the Hawkes, since it is one of the admirable
arrangements of Providence that men can cheer louder than they can
curse.

And now a bevy of full one hundred of the Hanway messages came through
the door. The stampede which started with the rickety, goat-bearded
little man, to include the duo chronicled, upon a seventh roll call
swept five more Hawkes from their perches and gave them over to Mr.
Frost. More messages, more changes; and all to finish in a pandemonium
in which Messrs. Patch and Swinger were withdrawn, and Mr. Frost was
landed Speaker by the meager fringe of three. Speaker Frost it was; and
everyone conceded that a staggering blow had been dealt the Presidential
hopes of Governor Obstinate. Senator Hanway, waiting at the Senate end
for news, sighed victoriously when word was brought him. It would be
Speaker Frost; and now, with House and Senate his, he for the first time
felt himself within sure and striking distance of a White House.

CHAPTER VI

HOW STORRI HAD A VIVID IMAGINATION

Storri had no more of moral nature than has a tiger or a kite. He was
founded upon no integrity, would keep faith with no one save himself.
Storri was not a moral lunatic, for that would suppose some original
morality and its subversion to insane aims; rather he was the moral
idiot. At that, his imbecility paused with his morals; in what a world
calls business he was notably bright and forward.

Storri was of education, had traveled wide and far, as ones of his
predatory stamp are prone to do, and with a Russian facility for tongues
spoke English, German, French, and half the languages of Europe. The
instinctive purpose of Storri's existence was to make money. To him,
money was a prey, and stood as do deer to wolves; and yet, making a fine
distinction, he was rapacious, not avaricious. Avarice includes some
idea of a storekeeping commerce that amasses by buying for one dollar
and selling for two. Storri would have failed at that. He was rapacious
as the pirate is rapacious, and with a gambler's love for the uncertain,
he balked at anything whereof the possible profits were cut and dried.
He wanted to win, but he was willing to lose if he must; and above